Letters | Veterans' challenges, right to work law and the Affordable Care Act

Veterans at greater risk for ALS

The press has done a very good job of reporting about the challenges our veterans face. We all have read or seen stories about our wounded warriors. About traumatic brain injury.

About veterans suffering from depression and other serious mental health issues. About those who have lost limbs or endure other physical hardships.

These are serious issues that deserve our attention, especially on Veterans Day.

What also deserves our attention, but which gets much less press, is the fact that military veterans are twice as likely to develop - and die from - Lou Gehrig's disease as those who have not served in the military.

Yes, studies show that the disease that took the life of baseball legend Lou Gehrig is striking our military heroes at an alarming rate.

It doesn't matter when or where they served in the military; home or abroad, peace or war, from World War I to Afghanistan.

Those who served are at greater risk.

ALS is horrific. Worse than your worst nightmare. It robs people of the ability to move, trapping them inside a body they no longer can control.

People describe it as being buried alive. There is no treatment. No cure. Only death in an average of two to five years.

So as the press calls attention to our military heroes on Veterans Day, I hope they remember those heroes who are fighting for their lives against ALS. I encourage your readers to visit the Wall of Honor at www.alsa.org.

There they will see the faces and read the stories of the military heroes who are fighting ALS and those who have been lost to the disease. Their stories of courage are worth your attention this Veterans Day.

JOSEPH WISE

Rineyville, Ky. 40162 -

Freedom never free

One of the most respected jobs, serving the United States military, is paradoxically one of the most underappreciated as well. These people and their families make countless sacrifices, whether it's putting their lives in harm's way in combat or not being home to see their child's birth.

Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to reflect and thank the veterans who have protected the freedoms that we as a nation take for granted.

As a Muslim American, we can sometimes be portrayed as people who aren't loyal to our nation. This, however, is far from the truth for the majority of Muslims. The Prophet Muhammad said, "Love of one's homeland is a part of faith."

Muslims honor the veterans that fought for our country from not only a national commitment, but also a religious one. Freedom is never free, and we must thank the people who've devoted their lives to protect it.

RAFÉ TARIQ

Ashland, Ky. 41101 -

Right to work law

I applaud Mitch McConnell in supporting the Right to Work law. People should have a say in whether they wish to join a union.

My grandson, who is in high school, worked for Kroger's. He was not given the option of joining the union.

On some weeks he had less than 10 hours, yet he was forced to pay into the union. The dues were approximately $17 a week.

Can you imagine the shock he received when he looked at his first first paycheck. The union leaders are filling their coffers on the backs of the students.

Why should a part-time employee, someone who is still in college or high school, pay union dues?

When they have a grievance, those students don't have the time or expertise in filing the correct documents. They just quit!

Stand your ground Mitch.

JACKIE HILLMAN

Louisville 40201 -

A debacle on health care

The Affordable Health Care Act is a debacle, Obama's economic policies have produced no measurable growth, unemployment is rising, the workforce participation rate is the lowest since March of 1978, and U.S. foreign policy has lost credibility.

Where do John and Alison (Yarmuth & Grimes) stand on these topics? Last we heard they were both in lock step with Obama! Their silence is deafening on Obama's policies as they fail across the board.

Why isn't John holding a press conference on the stellar performance of the AHCA rollout he so strongly supported or criticizing the plan to demonstrate the reality of its failure?

Where is his legislation to grow the economy without borrowing trillions more? What exactly are Alison's plans to fix Obamacare, create private sector jobs and restore our country's place as a trusted ally?

She only attacks Sen. McConnell for brokering the deal (again) to bring both political sides together?

The larger question; when will the Courier-Journal ask John and Alison these questions instead of protecting them from exposing themselves as the root, with Obama, of what is destroying our country!

DAVID KITTLE

Louisville 40241 -

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Letters | Veterans' challenges, right to work law and the Affordable Care Act

The press has done a very good job of reporting about the challenges our veterans face. We all have read or seen stories about our wounded warriors. About traumatic brain injury.